Visual Strategies Work! Donna Line, M.S. Courage to Risk Conference Saturday, January 26, 2008

Communication Choices

Choices

Choices

Communication Requests

Requests

Communication Picture symbols

Picture symbols

Communication Express feelings

Express Feelings Source: Boardmaker

Social Skills Greetings Conversations starters Flow of conversation/on topic comments Cues to change topic Ask a friend to play Turn taking

Flow of Conversation Follow-Up questions Who What Where When Why How SOCIAL SKILLS Flow of Conversation Follow-Up questions Who What Where When Why How What else East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

Sentence Strips Provide sentence strips (written prompts) SOCIAL SKILLS Sentence Strips Provide sentence strips (written prompts) Implement sentence strips that help students discriminate East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

Sentence strips

Social Scripts Identify target skill Identify a relevant activity SOCIAL SKILLS Social Scripts Identify target skill Identify a relevant activity (past or upcoming) Develop written instructions (statements or questions) Use prompts and prompt fading East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

SOCIAL SKILLS Social StoriesTM Story that is written about a social situation in which the student is having difficulty Target broad issues such as dealing with anger, waiting appropriately, tolerating mistakes Target specific issues such as increasing tolerance, special events, etc. East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

SOCIAL SKILLS Social StoriesTM Tailor the social story to reflect the student’s language and experience, provide alternative verbal and/or behavioral responses, build in social recognition of their changes (“Everyone will be so proud of me when I stay calm and ask for help.”) Story can be read to the student or the student can read the story, then discuss and review the alternative behaviors East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

Social StoriesTM Story is typically read proactively Story may need to be read immediately before the situation Or, story can be presented at the time of the event, if more effective

Social StoriesTM Describe social situation Include individuals Include circumstances

Guideline for Social StoriesTM SOCIAL SKILLS Guideline for Social StoriesTM Made for the individual Use “I” statements Specific information Use skill appropriate vocabulary and print Write in present or future tense For program changes, change one component at a time East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

I am going to a birthday party. SOCIAL SKILLS I am going to a birthday party. East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

There will be friends! SOCIAL SKILLS East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

When I play games with my friends, I will take turns. SOCIAL SKILLS When I play games with my friends, I will take turns. East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

We will sing Happy Birthday SOCIAL SKILLS We will sing Happy Birthday East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

blow out candles and make a wish. SOCIAL SKILLS My friend will blow out candles and make a wish. East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

My friend will open presents. SOCIAL SKILLS My friend will open presents. East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

When the party is over, I will come home. SOCIAL SKILLS When the party is over, I will come home. East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

SOCIAL SKILLS I had fun. East Centrall BOCES Autism Team, April 4, 2007

Social Story

Contact Information Donna Line (303) 562-7673 buffalovalley@hotmail.com